Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus

Bottom Line

The Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus plays streaming HD media and offline content through your TV or monitor without a stammer. Amply connected and more flexible than a set-top box, it's up to light computing at an equally lightweight price, but you'll need to bring your own peripherals -- and your own operating system.

Performance

Streams smooth as silk. Powered by a 2.13 GHz Intel Atom dual-core processor and 2GB of memory, the Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus nimbly performs the primary task it was designed to do: access and play back streaming media (including 1080p) as well as media from its own 320 GB hard drive. With both Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11b/g/n networking built-in, you can also stream media from another system or server as well as other wired drives.

This is a full computer, so you can comfortably browse the web, read email, use simple programs and even play less demanding 3D games. If you try to do more, you'll be disappointed. Performance can be boosted by installing a second 2 GB memory module in an empty slot, and some experts recommend doing just that.

This is very much a DIY system, and you won't find a keyboard, mouse or optical drive bundled with it. The lack of an optical drive can be an issue for some as you also have to install your choice of operating system (OS). According to HotHardware.com, Zotac claims that it works closely with OpenELEC, a free Linux variant that includes media-center software. ComputerShopper.com tests the Zbox ID80 Plus Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) without a hitch. Once the OS is installed, you can download all the drivers you need from a bundled disk (using your self-supplied optical drive).

The Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus consumes little power and makes almost no noise to interfere with your viewing pleasure. At times it gets warm but not too hot to touch.

Design

Small and sleek. The tiny Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus is housed in an attractive black and silver plastic case. It can be attached to the back of a TV or monitor with an included VESA mount or stood vertically on a stand that's included as well.

While some peripherals are omitted, the Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus's box is far from empty. In addition to the aforementioned stand and mount, the bundle also has a power cable, a DVI-to-VGA adapter, the power brick, a removable Wi-Fi antenna, a Media Center remote control (including batteries) and a USB-based infrared (IR) receiver for the remote. Two USB 3.0 ports and four USB 2.0 ports allow you to hook up everything you need.

Support and Reliability

Well above average. The Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus is covered by a one-year warranty. Zotac is too specialized to figure in most support and reliability evaluations of desktop computers. However, the company rates rather well in the yearly evaluations of the British site PC Pro. Nearly 90 percent of the users surveyed find Zotac products reliable and 94 percent say they'd buy from Zotac again.

Value

Excellent value if you have the know-how. The Zotac Zbox ID80 Plus will hit the sweet spot for do-it-yourselfers and those with some computer know-how, however it might not be a great choice for a computer novice. If you don't need to buy a host of peripherals, you'll get great HD video and a basic computer for less than the price of an all-in-one.